Panko Vina stops operations before Tet, workers look forward to 13th month salary

Workers in boarding houses still face many difficulties

Regarding the announcement of the termination of operations before the Lunar New Year 2026, reporters of Lao Dong Newspaper have visited the boarding houses to record the lives of workers.

Panko Vina Co., Ltd. has about 2,700 workers. Many workers rent rooms about 1km from the company to be able to walk to the factory to work.

The family of Ms. Hoang Thi Hang (39 years old, from Nghe An) rents a room to live on D18A Street (Ben Cat Ward). Ms. Hang said she has worked at Panko Vina Co., Ltd. since 2007.

"I have been in Ho Chi Minh City for a long time to start a business, but my income is low, so my wife and I still have to rent a room. Due to difficult conditions, the two young children had to be sent to their hometown to be cared for by relatives. My income is only from 6-11 million VND/month. The couple had to be very frugal to cover expenses and send them back to their hometown to raise their children. Now that the company has announced the termination of operations, I am very worried. Work and income will be interrupted, life will be more difficult" - Ms. Hang shared.

At the boarding house on D17A Street, we met Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (40 years old, from Vinh Long Province). Her family's meal was just braised catfish and vegetable soup. Ms. Phuong shared that she has worked at Panko Vina Co., Ltd. for about 7.5 years. According to Ms. Phuong, if she had overtime, she would earn about 11 million VND per month, but if she did not work overtime, it would be only about 6 million VND. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the company's orders have decreased, with few overtime.

"We are earners and only rely on overtime pay, however, recently the company has not had overtime. If I only work 8 hours/day, I earn 6 million VND/month. My husband works as a security guard, earning only nearly 6 million VND per month. With this income, my wife and I and our children have to be very frugal to stay in Ho Chi Minh City" - Ms. Phuong shared.

Hope the company will pay 13th salary to have money to cover

Working hard all year, low monthly income, workers only hope to have 13 months' salary to cover the end of the year.

"With the couple's income of 12 million VND/month, we have to pay for rent, money for 2 children's education, money to take care of their parents in the countryside... Every month's salary is spent for the whole month, even lacking in front and back. Therefore, at the end of the year, we only hope to receive the company's payment for the 13th month salary. Thanks to this income, we have money to go back to our hometowns and cover Tet expenses" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong shared.

Similarly, Ms. Hoang Thi Hang said that her hometown is far away, and her money to return home for Tet every year is to rely on her 13th month salary.

"The company announced the termination of operations before the Lunar New Year but did not specify the payment of 13th salary, which made us very worried. The first worry is losing a job without income to cover. Another worry is that Tet has come and I don't have money to buy bus tickets to return home. Our wish is that Panko Vina Co., Ltd. will pay our 13th month salary so that we have money to cover our living expenses" - Ms. Hang expressed.

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